There’s Another Wild QB Trade Theory for Vikings
We’ve entered the “maybe they will trade J.J. McCarthy” portion of Sam Darnold’s reclamation season in Minnesota.
There’s Another Wild QB Trade Theory for Vikings
Darnold has fully revamped his career with the Minnesota Vikings, on pace for about 4,300 passing yards, 38 total touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 2024.
Onlookers are so impressed with Darnold’s production that conversations about “what to do with them” when the season ends have turned awkward. Well, The Ringer‘s Bill Simmons has an idea — trade the other guy.
That’s J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings’ big hope for the future. Simmons suggested this week that Minnesota could offload McCarthy to the highest bidder and keep Darnold for 2025 and beyond.
“Darnold … really has energy with Jefferson and Addison. He has almost 3,300 yards – Darnold – 28 touchdowns, and 10 picks, and if they are in round one of the playoffs, he’ll probably be like a four-plus-point favorite. He’s on a one-year deal. They have J.J. McCarthy, I’d be really hesitant not to bring Darnold back,” Simmons mused on his podcast Monday.
Then, he delivered the money shot: “Today was the first day where I was like, ‘Wow, they might have actually found their QB, and maybe they should think about trading J.J. McCarthy.'”
Indeed, letting Darnold walk or retaining his services for 2025 will be a heated conversation when the playoffs conclude. But truth be told, Darnold may have to win a Super Bowl with the Vikings to keep him attached to the roster.
Foremost, Darnold won’t re-sign with the Vikings on a humanitarian deal. The 2025 offseason will be perhaps his one chance to cash in a deal worth $40+ million per season — not unlike Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last offseason.
The problem for the Vikings? They just ended an era with an expensive quarterback and sometimes struggled to outfit a roster around that man, Kirk Cousins. Re-upping with Darnold at his market value would instantly return Minnesota to the Cousins Era of team-building. There is no difference.
There’s also the matter of discarding McCarthy because “the other guy” had a single productive season. The goal — long term — is for McCarthy to morph into a Joe Burrow-caliber QB1, not in the Darnold vein where fans constantly hope his performance lasts week after week.
In a video game, trading McCarthy might add up. However, in the real world, Darnold would have to win a Super Bowl with the Vikings this season to disrupt the McCarthy plan.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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